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Tourism Holdings Ltd buoyant at purchase of The Legendary Black Water
Rafting Company
Tourist attractions at Waitomo to be further expanded with guided walking
tours of Ruakuri Cave
Activities at Waitomo for the adventure seeking tourist
The Waitomo Caves with their impressive limestone formations and glowworms
have attracted thousands of visitors since the discovery of the glowworms
in 1887. Since 1987 the development of other activities in the area has
made it a top ranking adventure tourism site. The legendary Black Water
Rafting Co operates Black Labyrinth, an exciting three-hour tubing
adventure through the glowworm-lit Ruakuri Cave, and The Black Abyss, a
more demanding five-hour exploration of the underground river section of
the cave combining abseiling, climbing and floating. Another three-hour
tour emphasises cave conservation and takes visitors through the limestone
landscape and into the Mangawhitakau Cave. Riders with a range of
experience are catered for in a horse trek through the adjacent farmland
with its interesting limestone formations. Another way to see the country
is on a 4x4 Motor bike with an experienced guide.
Safety all important
For all these trips there is a strong emphasis on safety and training is
given in abseiling for those setting out on a trip involving that
activity.
History of management of the Waitomo Cave attraction
Local Maori knew of the existence of the cave and the glowworms but kept
the knowledge to themselves until an English surveyor persuaded local
Maori chief, Tane Tinorau, to accompany him on an exploration.
Subsequently Tane and his wife Huti took visitors through the cave for a
small charge. In 1904 James Holden opened the caves to visitors. Because of
vandalism the Government took over the administration in 1911. Since 1995
the Waitomo Caves operation has been managed by Tourism Holdings Limited.
In 1989 the land and the cave were given back to the descendants of the
original owners. A percentage of the revenue from the cave tours is paid to
them and many of the descendants of Tane and Huti are employed in the
enterprise that organises the cave and glowworm tours.
Tourism Holdings has now expanded its operations at Waitomo
Tourism Holdings Ltd (THL) has purchased The Legendary Black
Water Rafting Company, which operates rafting trips in inflated rubber
tubes on subterranean rivers flowing through the Ruakuri Cave system at
Waitomo.
Caption for the three combined (unless when we see them together we can
think of appropriate separate captions.)
Black Water Rafting - true adventure tourism
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Black Water Rafting - true adventure tourism
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THL has also obtained a 30-year licence to re-open the historic Ruakuri
Cave for guided walking tours. The cave closed to walking visitors in 1988
because of a disagreement over land ownership. In addition, the existing
walk-in entrance is a significant waahi tapu (burial) site of the Maniapoto
people. THL's re-development plans include a new entrance away from the
sacred site.
THL has held the licence to operate guided tours of the Waitomo Glowworm
Caves and the adjacent Aranui Cave since 1995. The caves are among New
Zealand's oldest and iconic tourist attractions, having opened to visitors
in the late 1800s. Over the past twelve months around 400,000 people have
visited the caves, which are open every day of the year.
THL Experiences General Manager, Richard Wilson, said his company was
delighted to have the opportunity to build its business in the Waitomo
region and to be able to add the world renowned Legendary Black Water
Rafting Company (BWR) to its operations.
"Over the past 15 years BWR has built up a solid operation that is today an
internationally recognised adventure tourism brand providing adventure
orientated visitors to the region with an off-beat and exhilarating
experience. BWR scores highly in tourism surveys of client expectation,
service and value.
33,000 people through Ruakuri cave system in one year
"As we do in the adjacent Glowworm Caves, BWR seeks to inspire visitors
with an unforgettable encounter with nature. In the past twelve months,
33,000 people have climbed into wet suits and rafted through the Ruakuri
system in rubber tubes, with some of the best adventure enthusiasts in New
Zealand as their guides. One of its major customers is THL's Backpacker
operation, Kiwi Experiences, which stops overnight in Waitomo.
Cave preservation and conservation
"We both also have a rigorous programme of monitoring and management to
ensure the fragile environment of the caves is carefully preserved."
At the glowworm caves the environmental stewardship includes independent
scientific advisory and management groups. These groups comprise THL
representatives, scientific personnel, representatives from the local Iwi
and the Department of Conservation (DOC). Their dedication, plus the
world-class technology employed, ensures the sparkle of the glowworms and
the delicate structures they live among will be enjoyed by generations to
come.
Mr Wilson said both the Black Water Rafting experience and being able to
provide guided walking tours of the Ruakuri Cave are a natural fit for THL
and complementary to the company's extremely successful involvement at
Waitomo.
After THL takes over BWR Mr Wilson confirms all staff are to be retained.
He adds that as the Ruakuri operation is developed, new jobs will be
created.
Over the next few months, THL will fine tune plans for the re-development
of Ruakuri Cave with work on the new entrance way and walkway
infrastructure expected to begin next year.
Included in the plans is a climate monitoring system for Ruakuri and an
entrance structure that features an 'airlock' permitting control of the
temperature, humidity and levels of carbon dioxide within parts of the
cave. The system will be based on THL's learnings from the glowworm caves
and those of similar caves open to tourists around the world, including the
latest development in the United States, the Kartchner Caverns in
Arizona.
Registered Historic Place
Ruakuri Cave takes its name from the pack of wild dogs early Maori in the
region found inhabiting the entrance way - 'rua' meaning den and 'kuri'
meaning dog. The original entrance was known to and used by Maori and is
now a registered historic place. Carbon dating of fireplace residue at the
entrance dates to over 400 years.
THL working with Holden Family Trust
Mr Wilson said the re-opening of Ruakuri had been a long-cherished dream of
the descendants of James Holden, who first opened the cave to visitors in
1904 and that THL looked forward to working with the Holden Family Trust,
Iwi and other stakeholders in the re-development and subsequent re-opening
of the cave.
Trust spokesperson, Warren Holden, said his family was 'passionate' about
Ruakuri being open again.
Ruakuri important to local Iwi
"Ruakuri has very sensitive and significant cultural aspects that are
important to local Iwi as well as the Holden Family Trust," he said.
"We are pleased THL, with their resources and ability to promote the
Ruakuri experience here in New Zealand and around the world, will be the
catalyst in completing the Ruakuri development. Not only is it a stunning
underground spectacle that we want visitors to be able to witness again but
also the re-opening completes the circle in terms of our family
history."
Published with permission from NZine
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